Universal stabilizer for a delivery system

Abstract

A stabilizer for use with a delivery system is provided. The stabilizer receives a delivery system, such as a handle portion, and prevents unwanted movement of the delivery system during a medical procedure. The stabilizer desirably includes an elongate rail that is adapted to be secured to a base or table. A rail dock is adapted to releasably couple to the delivery system. The rail dock is slidably mounted along an upper surface of the rail and includes a brake assembly. The brake assembly preferably includes a toggle member with at least one push button, wherein actuation of the push button may release or lock the brake assembly. Components of the stabilizer are provided for allowing the stabilizer to be used with different delivery systems and the stabilizer is capable of being secured to different sized tables.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A universal stabilizer adapted or configured for use with multiple different delivery systems, the universal stabilizer comprising:
 a rail extending along a longitudinal direction and having a first end, a second end, an upper facing surface, a lower facing surface, and first and second sides extending between the first and second ends; and   a rail dock mounted on the upper facing surface of the rail, the rail dock comprising:
 first and second channel members spaced apart to receive the first and second sides of the rail therebetween, the first and second channel members including distal ends that overhang the lower facing surface of the rail and prevent removal of the rail dock from the rail in a vertical direction; and 
 a brake assembly configured to be actuated between a first configuration in which the rail dock is configured to translate along the rail and a second configuration in which the rail dock is prevented from translating along the rail, 
 wherein the brake assembly includes a toggle member with a first button on a first side and a second button on a second side, wherein pressing the first button actuates the brake assembly from the first configuration to the second configuration and pressing the second button shifts the brake assembly from the second configuration to the first configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The stabilizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a guidewire management system operably coupled to the rail or a base to which the rail is attached, wherein the guidewire management system is configured to support a guidewire over which a delivery system is configured to be advanced. 
     
     
         3 . The stabilizer of  claim 1 , wherein the rail dock includes a first support for a handle of the delivery system. 
     
     
         4 . The stabilizer of  claim 3 , wherein the rail dock includes a carriage oriented along the longitudinal direction, the first support mounted on the carriage and movable along the longitudinal direction relative to the rail dock. 
     
     
         5 . The stabilizer of  claim 4 , wherein the carriage is threadedly mounted on a travel screw, the travel screw connected with a twist knob for moving the carriage. 
     
     
         6 . The stabilizer of  claim 3 , wherein the first support includes a fixed member and a movable member movably coupled with the fixed member, the first support actuatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The stabilizer of  claim 6 , wherein the first support is actuatable between the open configuration and the closed configuration by a rotation of a knob, the rotation being less than about 180°. 
     
     
         8 . The stabilizer of  claim 6 , further comprising a lock switch, the lock switch rotatable between a locked position that holds the first support in the closed configuration, and an unlocked position in which the first support is allowed to move between the open and closed configurations. 
     
     
         9 . The stabilizer of  claim 3 , wherein the first support comprises a worm gear connected with a knob and a worm wheel connected with the handle, and rotation of the knob controls rotation of the handle about a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The stabilizer of  claim 3 , wherein the first support comprises an elastic strap with at first end secured to a first side of the first support, a middle section extending over the handle, and a second side securable to a second side of the first support. 
     
     
         11 . A surgical system comprising the stabilizer of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a base to which the rail of the stabilizer is configured to attach to; and the delivery system comprising the handle with which the first support of the stabilizer is configured to engage, the delivery system being configured to deliver a heart valve prosthesis to replace a native heart valve.   
     
     
         12 . A universal stabilizer adapted or configured for use with multiple different delivery systems, the universal stabilizer comprising:
 a rail extending along a longitudinal direction and having a first end, a second end, an upper facing surface, a lower facing surface, and first and second sides extending between the first and second ends; and   a rail dock mounted on the upper facing surface of the rail, the rail dock comprising:
 first and second channel members spaced apart to receive the first and second sides of the rail therebetween, the first and second channel members including distal ends that overhang the lower facing surface of the rail and prevent removal of the rail dock from the rail in a vertical direction; and 
 a brake assembly configured to be actuated between a first configuration in which the rail dock is configured to translate along the rail and a second configuration in which the rail dock is prevented from translating along the rail, 
 wherein the brake assembly includes a toggle member with at least one push button on a first side of the brake assembly, wherein pressing the at least one push button actuates the brake assembly from the first configuration to the second configuration and releasing the at least one button actuating the brake assembly from the second configuration to the first configuration. 
   
     
     
         13 . The stabilizer of  claim 12 , wherein the brake assembly includes a brake member that engages and disengages from the upper facing surface of the rail, and wherein the brake assembly includes a ramp connected with the toggle member, the ramp configured to actuate the brake member to engage and disengage from the upper facing surface of the rail. 
     
     
         14 . The stabilizer of  claim 12 , wherein the distal ends of the channel members are closer together than a width of the rail and fixed in position, such that the rail dock is loaded onto the rail by alignment of the first and second channels with the first and second sides at the first end of the rail and cannot be removed in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         15 . The stabilizer of  claim 12 , further comprising a second support coupled with the rail, wherein the second support is a hub nest configured to receive an introducer hub or sheath hub associated with a delivery system, the hub nest including a locking post that inserts within a receiving aperture in the upper facing surface of the rail and rotates to removably lock into place on the rail. 
     
     
         16 . A universal stabilizer adapted or configured for use with multiple different delivery systems, the universal stabilizer comprising:
 a rail extending along a longitudinal direction and having a first end, a second end, an upper facing surface, a lower facing surface, and first and second sides extending between the first and second ends; and   a rail dock mounted on the upper facing surface of the rail, the rail dock comprising:
 a first channel member on a first side of the rail dock aligned with the first side of the rail; 
 a second channel member on a second side of the rail dock, the second channel member on a plate biased inwardly towards the second side of the rail; and 
 a button that couples with the plate and pressing the button shifts the plate and second channel member away from the rail to permit the rail dock to translate along the rail and releasing the button shifts the plate and the second channel member into the second side of the rail to prevent the rail dock from translating along the rail. 
   
     
     
         17 . The stabilizer of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second channel members each include a projection with a distal end that overhangs the lower facing surface of the rail. 
     
     
         18 . The stabilizer of  claim 16 , wherein the rail dock includes a lockable support or a passive handle support. 
     
     
         19 . The stabilizer of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a third channel member biased into engagement with the either the first or second sides of the rail, wherein the first side of the rail includes a textured surface.   
     
     
         20 . The stabilizer of  claim 16 , further comprising a blocking member actuatable between a secured position in which the rail dock is prevented from being removed from the rail in a vertical direction and an unsecured position in which the rail dock is permitted to be removed from the rail in the vertical direction.